Employment

POSITION: Custody and Support Hearing Officer
Domestic Relations Branch, Family Court
Court of Common Pleas

Open to promotion, transfers, and new hires

 SALARY:      $87,639 - $97,557 (G54)

FILING DEADLINE: This is a continuous posting with no filing deadline. The purpose of this position is to establish an eligibility list for future vacancies within the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania.

An application for this position should include a cover letter, resume, writing sample.

Please complete the application process at:  https://fjdcareers.phila.gov/Cyberweb/fjdcareers.aspx

 Candidates who are deemed qualified but are not selected for the position at hand may be placed on an eligibility list for a period of one year for possible future consideration.

**NOTE** The selected candidate would be required to serve in either the custody and/or support unit(s) depending on operational needs.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Minimum of five (5) consecutive years as a licensed attorney and ongoing membership in good standing of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the duration of employment as a Custody and Support Hearing Officer.
2. Current and ongoing compliance with Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements mandated by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, as well as any and all other continuing educational requirements applicable to the position of Custody and Support Hearing Officer.
3. Minimum of five (5) years of experience with an active law practice including the field of domestic relations law, or as a judicial law clerk to a Family Court Judge or a court employed attorney in the Domestic Relations Branch.
4. After meeting minimum application standards by a panel review, must complete an evaluation and interview process.
   
5. Successful completion of a criminal background investigation.
6. Ability to perform the essential functions of the position
7. Covid-19 Vaccination is recommended.
8. Full-Time On-Site position.

GENERAL DEFINITION:

 This is an at-will position with assignment under the direction of the Administrative Judge of Family Court, supervising attorney(s), and other administrative superiors.  This is highly professional legal work serving in the capacity of a Hearing Officer with the Domestic Relations Branch of Family Court, specifically to hear Child Support and Child Custody matters.  The work is performed in a quasi-judicial setting and involves conducting formal conferences and hearings between parties, both married and non-married, some of whom are represented by attorneys.  These proceedings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedures governing custody and support, and other applicable law.

The following duties are normal for this position.  These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive, other duties may be required and assigned:

• Conduct conferences and hearings involving parties engaged in Child Support and Custody litigation.
• Schedules, hears, evaluates, and prepares formal recommendations for submission to the Court which require receiving documents and hearing testimony by plaintiff, defendant, and witnesses, as well as arguments by counsel; examining said testimony and the evidence submitted; evaluating the information and filing a report with the Court
• Makes recommendations pertaining to entry of support and/or custody orders.
• May join support matter to custody matter to accept agreement of the parties who wish to concurrently resolve support issues where there are open support matters.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Standard office conditions.

Direct contact with diverse court clientele.

• Thorough knowledge of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure governing actions for Child Support and Custody.
• Thorough knowledge of statutory and case law relating to Child Custody and Child Support.
• Thorough knowledge of the proper conduct of hearings held in accordance with Pennsylvania laws.
• Thorough knowledge of the preparation of legal documents and court orders.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying law to factual situations and support recommendations made by appropriate legal authority.
• Ability to fairly and objectively rule on a multitude of cases that involve highly emotional issues.
• Ability to present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.

The First Judicial District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  The First Judicial District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.